Four excellent entrepreneurs have the chance to win the Horticultural Entrepreneur Award

26 October 2018

The finalists for the Horticultural Entrepreneur Award 2019 have been announced. Michiel F. van Ginkel, chairman of the board, paid a surprise visit to Anthura in Bleiswijk, Dekker Chrysanten in Hensbroek, Opti-flor in Monster and Wim Peters Kwekerijen in Someren.

All four top entrepreneurs have the chance to win the
prestigious title at the 33rd edition of the Horticultural
Entrepreneurs Award on 9 January.

Anthura, Bleiswijk

Anthura is an expert in orchid and anthurium breeding and
propagation. Over 80 years, this family business has become a
global market leader and supplies young plants to more than 70
countries around the world. Anthura has production locations in
Germany, Macedonia and China to ensure effective and efficient
distribution. For many years the company has focused on innovative
and sustainable product development, resulting in an unlimited
selection of colourful varieties.

Dekker Chrysanten, Hensbroek

Family business Dekker Chrysanten is one of the leading
chrysanthemum breeders and propagators in the world. The
internationally oriented company develops and markets new varieties
and has production facilities in Hensbroek and Tanzania. In
addition, it has sales offices in the Netherlands, South Africa and
Colombia and test locations in Colombia and South Africa. In recent
years, Dekker Chrysanten has invested heavily in the development of
innovative and successful chrysanthemum varieties and is seen
worldwide as a trendsetter.

Opti-flor, Monster

The mission of the family business Opti-flor is 'to let the
customer enjoy special Opti-flor orchids to the full'.
Entrepreneurs Marco and René Hendriks and Raymond van der Knaap do
this with a team of committed and young professionals in an
entrepreneurial and inspiring environment. The company grows more
than six million phalaenopsis plants per year at seven production
locations in the Westland, using special, high-quality and
exclusive concepts. Opti-flor is known as a creative and innovative
trendsetter. Their own R&D department has a strong
market-oriented focus, resulting in pioneering out-of-the-box
innovations.

Wim Peters Kwekerijen, Someren

Family business Wim Peters Kwekerijen produces, grows and
packages Roma tomatoes and other special and exclusive tomato
varieties over 16 hectares in Someren. The company is progressive,
independent and forward-looking and sees many opportunities for
tomato cultivation. The company uses the latest sustainable
techniques wherever possible to achieve optimal results and the
best quality. An example of this is LED lighting, which makes it
possible to grow crops more energy-efficiently and productively all
year round. The company is the front-runner in the Netherlands with
11 ha of LED lighting.

Strong and innovative

One thing that all of the finalists have in common is that they
respond to changing society needs with strong, innovative
strategies. These go hand in hand with sustainability and healthy
business models. The entrepreneurs make an effort to attract
(young) talent to the horticultural sector. They produce a
continuous stream of innovations and look for cooperation with
partners in order to grow not individually, but as a sector.

33rd awards ceremony held on 9 January

The jury have not yet finished, because the second assessment
round is about to start. On Wednesday 9 January 2019, the jury will
announce the entrepreneur who will receive the prize. This takes
place at the Keukenhof during the 33rd award ceremony. All
horticultural entrepreneurs are welcome. The theme for the
afternoon is 'Horticultural transition: tackle it with energy'.